EBRD Investment in Ukraine

Demanding transparency and fairness in the allocation of loans

Milkiland NV

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a multilateral developmental international financial institution, which uses investment as a tool to help countries transition into market economies. The Ukrainian company Milkiland had been ignored and effectively passed down with respect to a crucial development loan. Milkiland sought out help. The challenge was to overcome the network of interests that were blocking the EBRD from assessing the request of Milkiland on the face of it. We held transparency and fairness of EBRD’s operations. Understanding the internal workings of the institution and how it inter-connected with states and other institutions was an initial hurdle we had to contend with. On top of that, the entrenchment of contractual relationships would prove hard to overcome.

Understanding internal politics to make the case for the client

The strategy was for us to simulate a check and balance mechanism in a more private context. The nature of the institutional infrastructure of EBRD, being positioned in between the public and private domain, limited the outlets we could use. The plan utilized the emerging inter-institutional business nexus. It delicately navigated the assortment of economic and political objectives and obligations. It put forward that the behaviour of the EBRD was contrary to the purpose of the organization. By prejudicing the position of a Ukrainian company, it was acting against the stated objective of helping Ukraine become a stand-alone market economy. We co-ordinated the relevant playmakers and acquired a detailed awareness of the internal politics of EBRD.

Alber & Geiger’s lobbying helps Ukrainian firm secure funding

High end political access

Oleg Rozhko- Chief Executive Officer, Milkiland NV

The result was a tremendous 30 million dollar loan for Milkiland. This achievement was the consequence of a careful triangulation of sensitive political and private interests. It ultimately allowed the integrity of Europe’s development infrastructure to be maintained. The financial relationships between Ukraine and the rest of Europe have consequently, retained their stability. Legal and institutional certainty, and ethical business behaviour are now a cause for enhanced development prospects in Ukraine.